Compare towns
Cranston vs Johnston vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cranston has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Cranston | Johnston | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 83,250Highest |
29,835 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±0.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Johnston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,206±$4kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6k 14% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,300±$7k 14% above U.S. |
$355,500±$13kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$59Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,275±$132 10% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Cranston and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,103 64% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Cranston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Achievement First Rhode Island · Cranston | Johnston | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Cranston High School West | Johnston Senior High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.